LAHORE, Nov 26 Pakistan hockey Captain Zeeshan Ashraf believes that his team has the potential to win the Challenge Trophy-I in order to qualify for next year's Champions Trophy.

Talking to reporters after attending the final session of the training camp set up in preparation for the event here at the National Hockey Stadium, Zeeshan said that although their main target was the 2010 World Cup, the upcoming contest was also tough and important for raising the team's morale before they compete in the mega event.

The Challenge Trophy is being held in Salta, Argentina, from Dec 6 to 12. The national selection committee had already announced an 18-member team to leave for the competition on Nov 30.

Zeeshan said that penalty-corner specialist Sohail Abbas would be playing an important role in Salta. He added that Pakistan would be in a strong position to win the final provided Sohail managed to score a maximum number of goals. He said the boys during camp had worked hard at removing the flaws noted in their action in the World Cup qualifying round in Lille, France, where Pakistan won the qualifiers to be able to feature in the World Cup. He said the major focus in the training camp was on improving the skill in taking and utilising short-corners and while attacking.

However, coach Shahid Ali Khan was of the view that the team's major flaw remained in its defence area and he had tried his best to bring improvement there.

He hoped that the 12-day training camp would prove helpful in achieving the goal and said that the boys had tasted victory by winning the qualifiers in France and were showing unity and eagerness for further success. And he, too, was expecting much from them in Argentina as their consistently good show in the last few events has also given a boost to their morale.

He said that the PHF, after the team's assignment in Argentina, was also working at holding a series against India and Holland at any of the neutral venues in order to make better preparations for the next year's World Cup.

He said that Canada and Argentina were two of the tough sides in Pakistan's pool. Canada, he pointed out, had defeated Argentina twice recently and he would not be underestimating their strength.

He said his first target was to reach the semi-final of the event in Salta, which was very important.

Saying that, he added that the boys had further improved on their fitness which was at par in Lille, too, as fitness plays an important role in modern hockey. And he was glad that the boys were following all advice being given to them in this regard.